Memory Foam Pillows vs Down or Feather Pillows

Memory Foam or Visco Elastic Foam is part of a commissioned innovation from the mid-1960s when NASA wanted to improve the safety conditions for astronauts. Initial commercial uses for memory foam or visco elastic foam included medical cushioning such as medical mattresses, wheel chair cushioning and support cushioning.

Memory foam provides many health and sleep benefits and is available in a number of commercial and consumer products. Memory foam contours to the body and as the body heat warms the visco elastic foam the foam responds and softens to allow for easy movement.

Memory Foam Pillows

Memory foam pillows are usually contoured by design to create the best alignment for the neck and spine and to create support for the head while sleeping. Memory foam pillows, like memory foam bedding will add support for medical conditions, injury and chronic pain relief.

As with Memory foam mattresses and mattress toppers, memory foam pillows are responsive to body heat and both contour and conform to the sleeper’s shape and movements. The body heat allows the pillow to soften and the sleeper can move freely from position to position through the night. Memory Foam pillows are made from the same open cell composition as memory foam mattresses, and are generally warranted for 3 years in a limited warranty. Memory Foam pillows are hypoallergenic and allergen free as well as dust mite resistant. Memory foam pillows made from soy based foam does not release VOC or irritating gas emissions.

Consumers using memory foam pillows rate them will from soft to supportive, while they take some time for some sleepers to get used to they are highly rated by consumers for comfort, relief from pain and stress and support for back and spine.

Down or Feather Pillows

Traditional pillows are made with some type of filler, either polyester, feathers or down. Feathers and down are considered to be the more luxurious or softest of the options. For many people, feathers and downs will aggravate allergies and will flatten over time. Some artificial forms of feather and down have been manufactured to provide allergy free relieve for sleepers too sensitive for the traditional down or feathers.

The life span of traditional pillows is usually a year to eighteen months. The pillows loose shape, the feathers and down scrunch or flatten and lose any support offered.

Feathers or down pillows would not offer any support to the spine or neck, nor would they support or contour the head in the same manner as the memory foam pillows.

Conclusion

The selection and purchase of pillows can be a very personal selection, for every person there is an ideal firmness and support style. Some people want to scrunch up a pillow; others want the firm support than can only come with pillows made with visco elastic foam. It is important to know what type of support you require before you choose your pillow. Some times people will need more support than others, such as when recovering from a strain, pulled muscle or from the stress of a long flight or drive or extended hours at a computer or desk.

Select a pillow that will last long enough to make it a good value, find pillows that enhance your sleep and provide you with the level of pain relief and support you require to get all the sleep you need. After all more than 1/3 of your life will be spent in bed, it is important to make that time as comfortable and restful as possible. Your pillow will have a great deal of impact in that process.